Three Can’t Live Without Products

Kassatex: How did you start designing?
MM: The seed was planted early. I grew up surrounded by fabrics and textiles— spending countless hours in auction houses, antique shows, and showrooms with my parents— so design has always been in my DNA. After college, you could find me at friends’ cocktail parties subtly rearranging furniture and accessories, and before long they began asking me to reimagine entire rooms just for fun. There were signs but I ignored them at first, as one does. And then in 2006, I started a real estate firm and spent nearly 12 years working in residential sales. During that time, my superpower became identifying hidden gems with long-term potential. In addition to property valuations I was able to help clients envision renovations, use of space and furniture layouts that would give them more confidence (and a lot of time investment leverage) before making offers. All of these experiences ultimately led me to channel my knowledge and passion into interior design full time about 10 years ago, beginning with projects where I assisted a developer on fully furnished residential flips.

Kassatex: Three designers who inspire you?
MM: I know this sounds cliche but they all inspire me – even designers with completely different aesthetics. I really like to be challenged to think outside of my familiar territory. Here are some favorites:
Ken Fulk: The color, the drama, the theatrical, the layers. I just love all the textures in his spaces.
Roman & Williams: Robin and Steven are such architectural design geniuses. They are very technical and thoughtful in residential, hospitality and historical preservation. All of their projects are so special.
Mark Sikes for his commitment to and brilliant use of stripes. Mark has such a beautiful way of taking a classic signature pattern and making it feel newly imagined every single time.
Steven Gambrell: Every one of his interiors is dreamy and soothing. His color pallets, finishes and furniture layouts are masterful.

To be honest I take a lot of my design direction from fashion designers, ready to wear and couture runways. So transformative. I think we all live like we dress to some degree.

Kassatex: Favorite room to design?
MM: Living rooms, bunk rooms, bathrooms.

Kassatex: A bathroom must always include?
MM: The unexpected! Bathrooms are one of my favorite spaces to design because you can have a lot of fun with art, color, hardware and patterned tile.

Kassatex: Three classic paint colors you always use?
MM: I love color and everything Farrow & Ball. One of the most treasured things in my office is my Farrow & Ball sample binder: nerd alert! It goes with me everywhere. It even has a little handle to make traveling with it easy; like a mini briefcase! Two colors I use a lot as they are so versatile (in color saturated rooms– walls and trim– or on the ceiling or built-ins) are Mizzle by Farrow & Ball and Skylight by Farrow & Ball. They work as a standalone or as accents in high gloss or flat. For a versatile white: Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore.

Kassatex: What is currently on your bedside table?
MM: My computer– I know, I know– terrible! But it is hard for me to turn it off.
Antique crystal lamp with the original pleated lampshade.
Marble heart shaped box for my earrings (trying to do better about removing them before bed!).
Dream Lychee candle by D.S Durga.
A “love note” from my daughter. It makes me smile every night before bed and then again when I wake up.

Kassatex: First thing you do in the morning?
MM: I go straight to my daughter’s bedroom and turn on all of the lights to begin the wake up routine for school; It takes about 3 visits back to her bedroom before she is down at the breakfast table fully dress.

Kassatex: Forever favorite hotel?
MM: I am loving all The Faraway Hotels! Some of my favorite locations plus gorgeous designs and F&B.

Kassatex: Favorite cost-effective brands you love to use when mixing high/low?
MM: Anthropologie, Arhaus, Etsy, vintage shops. West Elm (ex. Piece & Ward) and CB2 (ex. Lenny Kravitz) have some really fun collaborations right now.

Kassatex: Three decor trends you wish would disappear?
MM: All white (especially in kitchens)! As much as I appreciate how hard it is to design an all white room well, some color, pattern and/or texture is an irrefutable must in my opinion.

Everything New. I miss the re-used, repurposed, touch of antique and vintage, in design. I think every room should have a conversation piece. A story.

This isn’t necessarily decor but a general industry trend and that is “quick turnarounds.” We live in such a rushed world where instant gratification has become the norm, leaving little room for real creative process— and to me it is reflected in a lot of the current design.

Kassatex: Most exciting moment of your career thus far?
MM: Oh this is tough. I can’t pick just one as these are all for different reasons: designing a restaurant, becoming co-chair of Nantucket by Design and the residential project I am working on right now in Nantucket is spectacular. It checks every dream job box including the amazing clients who just get the process.

Kassatex: Finish this sentence: When in doubt in design…
MM: Add color (or wallpaper)! Every room should carry depth through accessories, pattern, color, and furniture, but most importantly reflect how a client wants to use and experience each space. Much like how we dress, every room should be a reflection of how you want to feel and live in each space.